Hardaway says Lil Penny will make return soon

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway set the world on fire Wednesday when he talked about the possible return of his alter ego Lil Penny.

Hardaway made mention of it on the ESPN show Get Up, which got the program’s hosts all jazzed up, and caused the Twitterverse to explode. Penny went more into detail about what the new Lil Penny might look like.

“We’re definitely gonna have to age him a little bit.” Hardaway said. “He’s not going to be the same, but he’s probably changed a lot now that I’m the coach instead of the ball player.

"It made my brand go from one level to the next. Just having the sneaker out there was enough, but to have Lil Penny on top of that, for people who didn’t like basketball they enjoyed the commercials, so that definitely took that to another level.”

Penny and the Tigers want to take the hype level to new heights Saturday. Hardaway said his team might go with a vintage look against SMU at FedExForum. It’s the Tigers annual throwback game, and fans are encouraged to wear their favorite Memphis State gear to the Arena.

The University of Memphis was known as Memphis State from 1957 to 1994 and of course, that includes the time Penny played for the U of M in the 90s.

“We’re just hoping to surprise everybody when we run out,” Hardaway said “That’s what we’re hoping for. We want everybody to come out in their Memphis State gear; it’s a throwback game.”

Tipoff for Tigers against SMU is set for 3 p.m. Saturday at FedExForum.

Smollett reported being beaten up by two men who shouted racist and anti-gay slurs and threw bleach on him. But his story fell apart when actors Smollett knew from the "Empire" set and the gym told police that Smollett paid them $3,500 to stage the attack.